Improvement in porcelain-knob machines



N.PETERS. PHDTO-LITHGGHAPHER WASHINGTON D C i tttt time,

THoMAsaTsLoAN; or NEW'YORK, N. Y.A

Leners Patent No. 94,849, dated sprmbefr 14, 1869.

menv IMPROVEMENT IN PORCELAIN-KNOB MACHINES.4

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and'makngpart of the same.

the manufacture of porcelain door-knobs, to mould them (one at a time) by means of a stationary mould,

or die, having a movable bottom and a reciprocatory die, or plunger, working in the former, in a manner well known `to those engaged in the manufacture. lWith this generally-practised system and machinery, the operation ot' moulding knobs is necessarily slow, and, consequently, expensive, the only means of increasing'thc capacity to manufacture being an increase in the number of `machines employed andthe manual labor attendant upon each machine,

My invention has for its main objectto afford an i organized machineby means of which the process of moulding knobs and other analogous articles may be accomplished 'with great expedition, and 'by means of which, while it is simple and durable, the process of moulding the knobs rapidly may be conducted without much manual labor; and to these ends,

My invention consists in the employment, in combination with a suitable hopper, or feeder for supplying the material and suitable upper and lower mova- Vble dies ihr compressing the material into shape, of a rotary disk, formed with aseries of openings through it, of 'a shape corresponding to the contour of the knob or other article to be lnoulded, and arranged to turn.

immediately over a plate,`or platform, whichv serves to retainthe material fed into the openings until it shall 4have ,been packed `tight in said openings, ready to be operated upon bythe dies, all as will 'be hereinafter more fully explained; and Y My invention further consists in the employment,

in combination with a perforated moulding-disk, of a single die, to form one side of the knob, and a double or compound dic,to make the cavityin (for the shank) and shape the other side ofthe knob, the whole operating together in' substantially the vmanner hereinafter set forth; and v My invention further consists inthe employment, in combination with the feeder, the. perforated moulding-disk, the bottoni-plate, and' plunger for packing the material, and the dies for compressing and forming the article, of a `reciprocating ejector and vreceiving-apron, or carrier, all arranged and operating as hereinafter more f ully explained; and

Myinventionfurtlieicollsists in the employment, in combination with the moulding, or compressingdies, of cleaning and lubricating-brushes, which are arranged to operate in such a manner, that while they eectually clean the faces of the dies and grease them, they leave no surplus oil on the dies; and

My invention further consists in so arranging the parts of the moulding, or compressing-medianism as will be hereinafter more fully explained, that while a suthcient pressure may be exerted, the fulcrum of motion or pressure-attachment will yield, in the event of undue pressure Varising from an over charge in the moulds, or other obstructionto thedies, and thus prevent breakage or a derangement of the partsot' themachine.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use a machine embodying my invention, I will proceed to describe the construction and operation of one, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, in whichi Figure l is a sideelevation.

'Figure 2, a back view.

Figure 3, a side View.

Figure 4, a vertical section, at line a' x, iig. 2.

`Figulre 5, a horizontal sect-ion, at line yy, tig. 4. Figure 6, va detail skeleton view-of the cam and starwheel, by means of which the moulding-disk is moved.

Figures 7, 8, 9, and 10, skeleton views of one ofthe cleaning and lubricating-brushes and its vactuatingby the same letter of reference`.

A is the base of the machine, from which projects upward a yoke-shaped frame, B, in which are hung the main driving and other shafts. lhe main shaft C has the motive-power applied tov it in the usual manner, and is intended to have a continuous and uniform rotary motion. -It is connected,` by means of spur-gears D E, with the shaft F, imparting to the latter an opposite rotary motion, and it is provided with cams G, H, and I, keyed fast to it.

The shaft F is provided with a spool-shaped groovecam, J, which so operates npont-he star-wheel I2 as to impart lto it an intermittent rotary motion, holding it in a locked condition between each movement, and

upto its cam I by means of a spring, D, connected to;V

one end of said lever and to the basel-k of the machine, while the bearing-end of arm M is heldin contact witll its cam H by'means of the spring I), pressing upward against arm Q.

From one side of fralne B projects all arm, R, in whicll are formed the bearings for the colnpound-die piston S and the vertical shaft l, which carries at its upper elld tllemouldillg, or knob-disk U, and at its lower end -the star-wheel I2.

Ou theshaft 'l is hung, sov as to have some play vertically, a frame, V, which carl-ies, f'ast to its upper end, a plaie, W, which constitutes a false bottom to some of the holes, or perforations of disk U, and which is held up against the bottom of disk U witll v a spring pressure by the spring x. Tile object alld advantage of tllus arranging the plate W is tllat it may yield, ill the event of particles of the material lodging between it and disk U, wllicll latter' is so formed on its bottom as to tend to push out at the circumference any such confined particles.

The compound die` just referred to is conlposed (see fig. 4) of the outer portion S, which issmoved up and dowll by the vibratorymotions of lever N, alld the inner portion a, which is independently lnoved by the arln b of rock-shaft L, connected to it by a link, '0.

Tile arrangement of the parts of this compound die, or lormelyand the mechanism operating them, is such tllat the two' parts of the die ascelld together until the material is reached. Tile inner die a then ascends alone, until its tcat Z forms the cavity for the shank of the knob and itsV shoulder supports the outer pol'- tioll at 4 4, (see fi". 4.)

- dn the standscf, or portions of the frame, are formed the bearings of the vertical sllaft g, which carries with it (hung to projecting arms) two auxiliary'rods, 7ly and i'. One of these, h, is so arranged as to yield with a spring, j, when its lower end is pressed upward, alld constitutes the presser, beillg provided at its lower end with a foot corresponding ill contour vto the perforations ill disk. The other arm i isrigidly con-4 nected with the shaft g, andl constitutes the extractor for discharging or pushing out of the perforatiolls of the said disk the molllded article, which is received von all endless apron, K, by which it is conveyed away to be finished.

The die-shaft g is moved up and down by one end of a viblatory arln, m, to which it is hllllg, and which is pivoted atn to the hanger o. 'lhe other end of said arm m is operated upon, through the medium of link p, by the calli G being kept in contact with, or lleldfa'lownward against the cam-surface, by means of a bifu'rcated arm, q, pivoted in the cross-bal' rol' the ulaill fl'alnc, andactuated by the spiral sprillg s.

The hanger o is not rigidly attached to the upper part of the lnachine,` but. passes through abearing, in

, which it is free to lllove vertically upward, alld is held down in its seat by link tin alever u. This levelI is held down at itsl rear end, or long arm ,by a strong spring, c. llle object and advantage of this arrange lllellt is, tllat the whole system may be yielding, so that ill the event of the material clauling,7 so that all over-charge gets in between the dies, the upper one may yield, alld a breakage of any part-s be avoided.

A2 is .the hopper, from which the material, properly mixed and tempered, is continually fedinto the receptacles l 2 3, '&c., of the disk U. The filling of these. receptacles from said hopper is insured or induced by all agitator, Bi, which is pivoted at O2, and vibrated on its pivot by means of its arm being coupled to the vertically-reciprocating rod i, by means cfa stud, or pill, d'2.

'lhe earlier-apron k passes over pulleys, or spools 6 7 S, and is moved by tllevface of sllaft O. Near the circurr'lference of disk U stands a vertical shaft, f2, which is arranged to turn freely in its bearings, and is oscillated by the conjoint action of a spring, g2, pulling around inone direction, and a rod, Jl", at# tached to all arm, i", and lever La, resting-against the cam k, pulling it around in the opposite direction, in sllcll a manner as to periodically throw or swing the arms-aZ opposite to and awayiiom the faces of the dies, and on the ends of these arms n? are arranged swivelling, or turning circular disks o2, provided with greased Sponges, or wipers p, which are held and rotated against the faces of the dies, while they are at rest before eacll stroke lnade by them.

These wiper-disks are rotated .in the following manner:

Near the periphery of eacll is pivoted one end of a har, s2, the other elld of which is pivoted to all arm, t?, ofthe sleeve lu2, on shaft f2, alld to this last-.named clld of s2 is also attached one end of a spiral spring, w?, the other end being 'secured to arm n?. .Ou the sleeve a2 is a protecting teat, or short rib, a, which is struck by tappets b4, projecting from the periphery of disk. (See figs. 7 alld 8.)

Froln this alrangement of parts, it will be seen that at the proper times, during the motions of-tlle disk U, the sleeve u2 will be turned on the shaft f, in one directioll, a short distance, or part of a revolutioll on its axis, and then, being released, will be turned back again by the action ofthe springs wz, tllus effecting a double rotatorymotiou ill the die-wiperand lluhrieator. This method of and device for wiping the dies is a most desirable one, because the die is effectually wiped out without having any surplus oil deposited on its face, which would tend to render the machine less ellicient ill its operation, by illducing the material to drag or stick to the die.

From what has been said of the construction of the machine alld the arrangement and operation ot' the several parts, the, following brief explanation of the general operation will suliice:

Tile hopper being supplied, and the machine pllt in rllnning order. power is applied to the lllaill drivingshaft, when the material will be autolnatically fed or filled illto the cavities 1 2 3, Snc., of the disk U, as it rotates, with all intermittent rotatory motion, as the charged perforations, or holes coule around ill succession under the presser hf, the plate W serving as a bottom to said perforations and support for the contained material, said presser descends, and packs the clay ill the perforations, so that no bottom-plate is necessary to insure its retention therein'. The packed charge, passing on at the next partial rotation of the disk, comes ill line with dies g and S, when the latter ascends, as before described, and the former then descends, alld the article is compressed and moulded; between the upper and compound lower dies, and passes around ill the disk still, and is forced out or discharged on to the apron k by the extractor e'. As soon as the dies g and S have receded from each other, the wipers p2 are swung around ill close proximity to their faces. The dies are then moved close to the Sponges, or wiping-surfaces, and the latter then quickly turned, as already explained, to cleall and lubricate the said die-faces.-

It will be understood, by means of an organized machine embodying the inode of operation set forth, the material supplied by the hopper is very rapidly worked up, and perfectly moulded, discharged, and carried olf, andthat with such a machine nearly all llalld-labor is dispensed with, it merely beillg necessary for attendants to supply the lnacllinc with material and receive the fnislled knobs.

' Of course the opellillgs ill the disk, though represented as of circular, for the formation of roulld knobs, may be lnade of any desired contour, to correspond with the contour of the article to be'nloulded, and the faces of the dies may be made of any desired shape alld design.

Many of the details of construction lnay be varied from' those sllown and described without changing the character of the machine and the lllode of operation.

` Having explained the several features of my'new machine, audits construction and operation, so that suitable dies G and Sa d, for compressing the matedisk, the whole rial into shape wit-hin' the perforated constpructedlto operate substantially as hereinbefore set forth. i

12. The employment, in combination with, a die and perforated holder, or disk,.of another compound die,

adapted tovform the shank-cavity and backside of lthe knob, substantially as herein set forth.

3. The combination, with the feeder A2, moulding- Idisk U, and dies G and S a d, and` packing-plate W,

and p lunge'r z, of an ejector, i, and receiving-apron, the whole arranged to operate as specified, for the purpose set forth. y

4. The `employment, in combination with thel face of a die, of a cleaning and lubricating-brush, .or its equivalent, which is arranged to revolvevagainst the face of the die in the manner described.

5. Hanging. either of the dies, -or die-frames, on a yielding fulcrum', substantially as described, so that in the event of an over-charge from claming, o1' other obstruction to the movements of the die, any breakage or over-straining of the machine or its parts will be avoided, asset forth.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this 19th day of July, 1869.

THOS. J. SLOAN. [n s.] Witnesses: OHAs. A. SCOTT, FREDERIC A. BAYER. 

